Methods 



All of the dairy farms in two southeastern towns ^ and in two northern 

 towns of New Hampshire bordering the Connecticut River were visited 

 and a set of data secured. The emphasis in this survey was on: (1) enumer- 

 ation and valuation of current physical capital, (2) how the farmers be- 

 came established as farm operators, and (3) history of progress to their 

 current status. Data from these schedules were used to: (1) indicate actual 

 capital values on farms of different sizes, (2) establish representative farm 

 inventories and budgets from which to study size, capital, income, and 

 capital accumulation relationships, and, (3) record case histories from 

 which some generalization can be made as to how farmers actually have 

 acquired capital. Another source of data for studying size and various 

 capital relationships was Connecticut Bulletin 285-i. 



Use of Results 



The results of this study should be of interest to farmers, prospective 

 farmers, suppliers of farm credit, and those concerned with farm credit 

 policy. 



This study develops some fundamental relationships between size, capi- 

 tal, and income on New Hampshire dairy farms, and various aspects of 

 the farmer's problem of obtaining capital. The latter is referred to in this 

 study as the capital accumulation problem. 



The results presented in this bulletin cannot be taken as the precise 

 answer to any individual's problem because individual opportunities and 

 abilities differ. Also the prices and costs used here are unlikely to fit ex- 

 actly any individual situation at present or over time. However, the author 

 believes that a careful reading of this bulletin can give considerable help 

 and guidance in the solution of individual problems. 



lA "town" in New England is the same civil division as a township outside New 

 England. To follow the local terminology the word town is used in this study. 



2 Production Efficiency on New England Dairy Farms, 2. Economies of Scale in 

 Dairying — An explanation in Farm Management Research Methodology, I. F. Fellows, 

 G. E. Frick, and S. B. Weeks, Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station Bui. 285, 

 February, 1952. 



